Saturday, 7 July 2012

Libraries and Pinterest

What is Pinterest? Pinterest is an image based social
bookmarking service. Users add or ‘pin’ links to their page which then can be
shared, repined or liked. Think of it as a big virtual pin board

From Pinterest,

A pin is an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be added from a website
using our bookmarklet or you can upload images from your computer. Each pin
added using the bookmarklet links back to the site it came from. (Source)

Participating in online social networks has become an
important part of many professional interactions. But keeping up with tweets,
posts and status updates can become overwhelming. So why, when social
media participation can prove to be a time black hole, should anyone sign up for
yet another service? The short answer
is, well, you don’t have to. But for the curious, interested and brave here are 5 reasons any
library should include Pinterest in their social media strategy.

1. In a short period of time Pinterest has become HUGE. Since its launch in 2010, Pinterest
has become the ‘3rd most popular social network in the U.S. in terms of traffic
after Facebook and Twitter’ (source).
Pinterest has ’over 10.4 million registered users, 9 million monthly
Facebook-connected users, and 2 million daily Facebook users’ (source). Plus, there are hundreds of library services on
Pinterest. Libraries public, private, education based, small and large from
around the world are all using this service in new and creative ways

2. It is a visual medium which lends itself to scanning
information. Think infographics.
Pins can quickly convey information to readers

3. Pinterest integrates
with other social media Facebook and Twitter. Pins can instantly be added to a
Facebook timeline and/or Tweeted

4. Messages can be tailored to the user. Unlike Facebook or
Twitter where all messages go out to all users, on Pinterest information can be
grouped into themed boards. Users can choose to follow all or just some boards. So
if a library has boards about new additions, local history and upcoming events,
users can pick those which interest them.